Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil...The LORD God commanded the man saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you will surely die." (NASB)
Man was not forbidden to eat from the tree of life - he was commanded not to eat from the tree that brought death. This is amazing. Adam chose death, eating from the tree which brought it about. The serpent tempted with the one forbidden thing and man took the bait.
Man continues to eat from the tree that costs much rather than eating freely from that which originally cost nothing. But God does not change. Be it moral relativism wherein each man does what is right in his own eyes, or religious systems that contradict what God has absolutely said (and written in blood) - God will not tolerate rebellion. And gloriously, the grace He supplies makes the fruit of rebellion far lest tempting, and the result of the tree from which Adam died is undone by the tree on which the second Adam died. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Lord, help me today to choose things which promote life - fruit of the Spirit of in full bloom. Do this Lord, for thy name's sake. Amen.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Philippians 1:15-17 Either Way the Gospel!
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. (NIV)
Some were preaching Christ and proclaiming Him in part to encourage Paul in his imprisonment. Others did it from selfish ambition, adding to their sin by thinking that they could harass Paul in the process.
Our proclamation of the gospel affects other believers, it edifies and strengthens. The people wanting to encourage knew Paul was excited that his imprisonment was resulting in preaching and people being converted. This was worth it to Paul, and quite rewarding - even as he suffered.
Prayer
Lord, suffering can be grand, so your word says. By your grace, please guide me to suffer well and by it have occasion to proclaim the gospel, and grant me glad willingness to die for your sake - and live and love for your sake. Amen.
Some were preaching Christ and proclaiming Him in part to encourage Paul in his imprisonment. Others did it from selfish ambition, adding to their sin by thinking that they could harass Paul in the process.
Our proclamation of the gospel affects other believers, it edifies and strengthens. The people wanting to encourage knew Paul was excited that his imprisonment was resulting in preaching and people being converted. This was worth it to Paul, and quite rewarding - even as he suffered.
Prayer
Lord, suffering can be grand, so your word says. By your grace, please guide me to suffer well and by it have occasion to proclaim the gospel, and grant me glad willingness to die for your sake - and live and love for your sake. Amen.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Romans 4:19-20 Unwaivering Faith
“He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb, without weakening in the faith. He did not waiver in unbelief at God’s promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.”
Faith is not the fruit of ignorance, but a consideration of the reality of things, and an attendant confidence that God will accomplish what He has purposed to in that reality. Abraham thought pretty hard of his old, decaying Adamic shell, and thereby greater contemplated the wonder of God to perform a work which defied natural biology, in both he and Sarah (who would laugh at the thought of it then rightly be ashamed).
How wonderful to think on the wonder of God—to consider His promises; while knowing that what He says He will do makes no sense to the natural, fleshly man that is at enmity with God. And, oh behold the fruit of the nations!
Prayer
Lord, is it so indeed that you can form me into the likeness of your only begotten? Will you surely give life to this mortal body; yea, and conquering life? Praise to you—you are doing that very thing! And I have contemplated my deadness and grab hold of the life you promise. Thank you. Amen
Faith is not the fruit of ignorance, but a consideration of the reality of things, and an attendant confidence that God will accomplish what He has purposed to in that reality. Abraham thought pretty hard of his old, decaying Adamic shell, and thereby greater contemplated the wonder of God to perform a work which defied natural biology, in both he and Sarah (who would laugh at the thought of it then rightly be ashamed).
How wonderful to think on the wonder of God—to consider His promises; while knowing that what He says He will do makes no sense to the natural, fleshly man that is at enmity with God. And, oh behold the fruit of the nations!
Prayer
Lord, is it so indeed that you can form me into the likeness of your only begotten? Will you surely give life to this mortal body; yea, and conquering life? Praise to you—you are doing that very thing! And I have contemplated my deadness and grab hold of the life you promise. Thank you. Amen
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Romans 9:3 - Willing to Lose
"For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,"
Paul expressed his desire to be accursed for his Jewish people. In this his desire is like that of the Lord, who "became a curse for us", as it is written, "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree". Our Lord cried out at that moment the Father "bruised him for our iniquity" - to the death. Paul was taught by the Lord to sacrifice, to pour himself out for others, having loved God first.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, grant me the strength to carry my cross, as you did first, and then all those who call you Lord must do; that I may know you, the true God, better, and love you completely. Amen
Paul expressed his desire to be accursed for his Jewish people. In this his desire is like that of the Lord, who "became a curse for us", as it is written, "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree". Our Lord cried out at that moment the Father "bruised him for our iniquity" - to the death. Paul was taught by the Lord to sacrifice, to pour himself out for others, having loved God first.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, grant me the strength to carry my cross, as you did first, and then all those who call you Lord must do; that I may know you, the true God, better, and love you completely. Amen
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Romans 8:15 - The Cry
"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
It is nothing less than the joint witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that compels us to cry out to God as our abba or father--our sustainer, provider, creator, and savior. The spirit of the world does not provide such a co-witness with the human spirit, hence the joint witness of the spirit of the age and the spirit of man cries out to an unknown god. Indeed they do not cry out as if from a great need and dependence--but as masters over it, commanding and defining its non-existence.
Prayer
Praise the King-Jesus- for His spirit in the redeemed. Continue Lord to move us to cry out to you in utter dependence. Amen.
It is nothing less than the joint witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that compels us to cry out to God as our abba or father--our sustainer, provider, creator, and savior. The spirit of the world does not provide such a co-witness with the human spirit, hence the joint witness of the spirit of the age and the spirit of man cries out to an unknown god. Indeed they do not cry out as if from a great need and dependence--but as masters over it, commanding and defining its non-existence.
Prayer
Praise the King-Jesus- for His spirit in the redeemed. Continue Lord to move us to cry out to you in utter dependence. Amen.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Luke 17:10 - Thankful and Unworthy
"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"
Jesus spoke those words to His disciples, words of instruction - words that would no doubt cause them and us to reflect on who we are in Christ before God. Let us be honest and confess that we rarely, if ever, do all that we should do in keeping with God's revealed will. More still, that which we actually do may indeed be tainted with a desire for reward. Man likes rewards and accolades but the desire for those things can destroy fellowship with God and one another. Let us embrace our position before God, for in Christ, though servants and slaves, yet we are sons and daughters. There is no greater reward than serving God.
Prayer
Lord, you know how we seek our own benefit all to often. We would have the humility of our brother, captain, shepherd and friend - Jesus. Help us to give thanks to you for doing what is best in your eyes and so not to impose our arrogance on our blessed union with you. Amen.
Jesus spoke those words to His disciples, words of instruction - words that would no doubt cause them and us to reflect on who we are in Christ before God. Let us be honest and confess that we rarely, if ever, do all that we should do in keeping with God's revealed will. More still, that which we actually do may indeed be tainted with a desire for reward. Man likes rewards and accolades but the desire for those things can destroy fellowship with God and one another. Let us embrace our position before God, for in Christ, though servants and slaves, yet we are sons and daughters. There is no greater reward than serving God.
Prayer
Lord, you know how we seek our own benefit all to often. We would have the humility of our brother, captain, shepherd and friend - Jesus. Help us to give thanks to you for doing what is best in your eyes and so not to impose our arrogance on our blessed union with you. Amen.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Ezekiel 1:1 - Down by the River
"Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God."
While God may certainly grab out attention and affection at any time, it is not unreasonable to expect to hear from Him during times of prayer and meditation. Ezekiel was in prayer "along the river" (where exiled Jews would go for worship) and there he saw his vision. God revealed amazing things to Ezekiel, surely He will open the eyes and ears of all those servants who worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Prayer
Lord, please visit Your servant in a very real way during out quiet times together and teach me what You will - for Your name and glory, and that I might know You better still, Amen.
While God may certainly grab out attention and affection at any time, it is not unreasonable to expect to hear from Him during times of prayer and meditation. Ezekiel was in prayer "along the river" (where exiled Jews would go for worship) and there he saw his vision. God revealed amazing things to Ezekiel, surely He will open the eyes and ears of all those servants who worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Prayer
Lord, please visit Your servant in a very real way during out quiet times together and teach me what You will - for Your name and glory, and that I might know You better still, Amen.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Jeremiah 42:6 - Good to hear
Scripture: Jeremiah 42:6
"Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God."
By God's grace and mercy His word brings about conviction, and invitation to partake of the gift of repentance. Sometimes this is hard to hear, but the comfort of His eternal love and promise to never leave or forsake us always attends the conviction and invitation. We can surely know that to listen to God leads us to wellness.
Prayer
Lord, help me also never to leave or forsake You, but to listen to your words with the hearing you have given me. Amen.
"Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God."
By God's grace and mercy His word brings about conviction, and invitation to partake of the gift of repentance. Sometimes this is hard to hear, but the comfort of His eternal love and promise to never leave or forsake us always attends the conviction and invitation. We can surely know that to listen to God leads us to wellness.
Prayer
Lord, help me also never to leave or forsake You, but to listen to your words with the hearing you have given me. Amen.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Genesis 3:11 - Sunday Clothes
Every provision and safeguard, God gave to Adam - the first man. Man had no reason to ponder that he might need more, as if he lacked something. Adam had no cause to fear his nakedness for it was a blessing.
Why do we seek for more than God has sovereignly decreed that we have, and that He provides? Because we by sin have come to know ourselves as naked. The same nakedness, which was so beautiful, became shame, for Adam and Eve "saw it" as a lack rather than plenty. Hence, their feeble attempt to cover it.
God asks me, "who told you that you were lacking something? Who told you that I have not provided enough"? And because of our nakedness, which has become sin, God provides the covering. What mercy!
We do not know what is best for us. We know who is best for us. We have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We have played God. We have not only eaten the fruit, we have poisoned it. In His mercy, God dresses us, he clothes us in the righteous robes of Christ who always pleases the Father.
Prayer
Lord, I stand before you naked with no clothes for you to approve. But I come to you and ask that you would continually dress me in the finest of Sunday clothes, the garments of Christ's resurrection! By your grace I would see my "wants" for what they sometimes are - a wrong understanding of my nakedness; for I came into this world wearing no righteousness of my own, but live now and will depart in royal priestly robes! Praise be to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Why do we seek for more than God has sovereignly decreed that we have, and that He provides? Because we by sin have come to know ourselves as naked. The same nakedness, which was so beautiful, became shame, for Adam and Eve "saw it" as a lack rather than plenty. Hence, their feeble attempt to cover it.
God asks me, "who told you that you were lacking something? Who told you that I have not provided enough"? And because of our nakedness, which has become sin, God provides the covering. What mercy!
We do not know what is best for us. We know who is best for us. We have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We have played God. We have not only eaten the fruit, we have poisoned it. In His mercy, God dresses us, he clothes us in the righteous robes of Christ who always pleases the Father.
Prayer
Lord, I stand before you naked with no clothes for you to approve. But I come to you and ask that you would continually dress me in the finest of Sunday clothes, the garments of Christ's resurrection! By your grace I would see my "wants" for what they sometimes are - a wrong understanding of my nakedness; for I came into this world wearing no righteousness of my own, but live now and will depart in royal priestly robes! Praise be to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Dirty Dishes - Matthew 23:25
Jesus said, "clean the inside of the cup first, then the outside will be clean also". For while the outside may appear clean, and the children of Adam may put forth the appearance, it is indeed an illusion. Yea, it is deception and hence that much more unclean; for it is a veneer of righteousness - and the Lord will not have it. If the inside of the cup is clean, then the outside is no longer deception, it is no falsehood.
Prayer
Lord, be pleased to wash me this day. Let me not deceive myself, but rather please You - entirely clean that I would be a vessel meet for the master's use. For Your glory's sake, amen.
Prayer
Lord, be pleased to wash me this day. Let me not deceive myself, but rather please You - entirely clean that I would be a vessel meet for the master's use. For Your glory's sake, amen.
Friday, August 8, 2008
How shall I respond
Welcome to the blog. I offer these thoughts in this first entry as introductory, all future posts will reflect specifically on chapter and verse. May it please the Almighty to bless the reader and writer. Amen.
Every command from God, every revelation of His being, evokes an immediate response from me; whether joy, or fear or surrender or pride. God's word cuts right through to the essence of humankind, and lays bare that essence - it is an invitation to surrender. If a command is given or a condition revealed, my response is measurable.
Thinking about that response is a critical step, for repentance may be the fruit my soul is wanting to blossom. Any command or invitation by God is met with my will, and I either rejoice or not. Danger arises when I receive a command, know it is good, realize that I am not God centered, dislike my lack of God centeredness, and want to dismiss my dislike of my disobedience; for then I still seek self, knowing that it opposes God.
Prayer
Grace and mercy. You oh God bid me from your own dear heart to change, and experience proves this is so. Protect me from love of self and let me gladly bear the cross - for the joy of You! Amen.
Every command from God, every revelation of His being, evokes an immediate response from me; whether joy, or fear or surrender or pride. God's word cuts right through to the essence of humankind, and lays bare that essence - it is an invitation to surrender. If a command is given or a condition revealed, my response is measurable.
Thinking about that response is a critical step, for repentance may be the fruit my soul is wanting to blossom. Any command or invitation by God is met with my will, and I either rejoice or not. Danger arises when I receive a command, know it is good, realize that I am not God centered, dislike my lack of God centeredness, and want to dismiss my dislike of my disobedience; for then I still seek self, knowing that it opposes God.
Prayer
Grace and mercy. You oh God bid me from your own dear heart to change, and experience proves this is so. Protect me from love of self and let me gladly bear the cross - for the joy of You! Amen.
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